DESCRIPTION:
The F-117 was the first attempt to build a production aircraft with a radar signature so small as to make
it virtually undetectable. This revolution in stealth technology was due primarily to the development of
computer programs able to compute the intensity of radar waves reflected back to their source. This
software dictated the Nighthawk's unique shape composed of flat angular panels. Once a shape had been
found with a sufficiently small radar cross-section, it was up to aerodynamicists to find a way to make it
fly. This feat was accomplished thanks to advances in fly-by-wire computerized control systems that make
constant adjustments to the F-117's control surfaces and maintain stability.

The stealth characteristics of the F-117 were further increased using various coatings of radar-absorbant
materials (RAM) and radar-absorbant screens covering the engine inlets. Edges of doors and access panels
such as the landing gear and bomb bays were also serrated to scatter radar waves. The aircraft's infrared
signature was also reduced by mixing hot exhaust gases from the turbofan engines with cool air and ducting
the mixture through a flat "platypus" exhaust.

The F-117 was developed in utter secrecy during the late 1970s and early 1980s and was not made public
until 1988. Shortly thereafter, the Nighthawk made its combat debut over Panama during the ousting of
dictator Manuel Noriega. The F-117 saved its greatest performance for Operation Desert Storm when 42
aircraft flew only 2% of the combat sorties against Iraq yet accounted for 40% of the strategic targets
attacked. The only combat loss of a Stealth Fighter occurred early in the Kosovo conlict when poor mission
planning allowed a Serbian missile battery to predict when an F-117 would fly through its defense zone.

Despite its revolutionary capabilites, the F-117 was always limited to night attack missions and gradually
became obsolescent with the development of more capable stealth aircraft. The introduction of the truly
multi-mission F-22 and F-35 led the US
Air Force to phase out the F-117 by 2008. The surviving attack bombers have been retired to the Tonopah
Test Range in Nevada where the Stealth Fighter was originally tested. Here, the planes are to be stored
in a mothballed state for the next decade in case they should be needed again.

Last modified 17 March 2012

HISTORY:

First Flight

(Have Blue demonstrator) December 1977
(F-117A) 18 June 1981

Service Entry

1983

Retirement

22 April 2008

CREW:

one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

$45 million

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root

unknown

Wing Tip

unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length

65.92 ft (20.08 m)

Wingspan

43.25 ft (13.20 m)

Height

12.42 ft (3.78 m)

Wing Area

784 ft² (73.0 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty

29,500 lb (13,381 kg)

Normal Takeoff

unknown

Max Takeoff

52,500 lb (23,814 kg)

Fuel Capacity

internal: unknownexternal: unknown

Max Payload

5,000 lb (2,268 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant

two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofans

Thrust

21,600 lb (96.0 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed

at altitude: 646 mph (1,040 km/h)at sea level: unknown

Initial Climb Rate

unknown

Service Ceiling

unknown

Range

1,140 nm (2,110 km) with max payload

g-Limits

+6

ARMAMENT:

Gun

none

Stations

two internal weapons bays with one hardpoint each

Air-to-Air Missile

AIM-9 Sidewinder

Air-to-Surface Missile

AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM

Bomb

up to two GBU-10/12/27 LGB, up to two BLU-109, up to two GBU-31 JDAM

Other

gun pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

Have Blue or XST

Code name for the Experimental Stealth Technology (XST) program led by the USAF and intended to develop
the capability to greatly reduce aircraft radar signature; 2 built (both crashed)

YF-117A

Full scale development aircraft built as prototypes of the production model; 5 built

F-117A

Production stealth attack bomber; 59 built

F-117A+

Proposal to significantly upgrade the F-117A with improved stealth features, replace the F404 engine with
the F414 equipped with an afterburner, integrate new sensors, and improve navigation equipment; not
developed

RF-117A

Proposal to modify standard F-117A models to a reconnaissance version by mounting a removable sensor pallet
in the bomb bay or permanently fitting a sensor suite in the fuselage; up to 24 planned for conversion of
existing or new build aircraft but not developed

F-117B

Originally a proposed model with a radar, GPS navigation system, and compatibility with the HARM
anti-radiation missile; not built

F-117B

Designation for a later proposed model with a redesigned wing of reduced sweep and increased span to
improve range, also featured changes to the vertical tails and addition of horizontal tail surfaces plus
enlarged weapon bays; not built

F-117B

Designation for yet another model merging the improvements of the F-117A+ with the second F-117B that would
increase the payload to four 2,000-lb class bombs and improve range; not built

F-117C

Model proposed to the UK Royal Air Force based on the F-117A but with a new cockpit canopy to improve
visbility, redesigned engine inlets, more powerful engines, and new avionics; not built

F-117N

First proposal to develop a model for the US Navy based on the F-117A but adding corrosion protection
measures and an automated carrier landing system; rejected by the Navy as being too limited with only night
attack capability

F-117X Sea Hawk

Proposed US Navy prototype to be converted from a F-117A airframe to demonstrate carrier suitability and
low speed handling characteristics of the F-117N concept; abandoned in favor of a revised F-117N proposal

F-117N

Improved model for the US Navy based on the second F-117B proposal but adding wing folding mechanisms as
well as landing and arresting gear suitable for carrier use; not built

A/F-117X

Revised proposal based on the F-117N and F-117B offered to the US Navy as an alternative to the Joint
Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program that would include a radar, FLIR and IRST systems, afterburning
engines, enlarged weapon bays compatible with bombs and Sidewinder or AMRAAM missiles plus provisions for
external weapons on two wing pylons; not built